— Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Tyler Anderson. Senior Reese Casey flashes a smile while making her commitment to play volleyball for Grand View University official during Webster City High School’s Signing Day, which took place last Wednesday in the Competition Gym at WCHS, 1001 Lynx Ave., Webster City.

In early February, most standout student-athletes make the announcement of where they will be headed for the next phase of their academic and athletic careers. These choices can range from massive universities, with heralded athletic programs, to the local community college where student-athletes can continue to be refined into prospects worthy of attention.

While most schools — both public and parochial — tend to put together either individual ceremonies or collective events with multiple students signing on to play their preferred sport at their college or university of choice.

Webster City is a little bit of an outlier, compared to most.

If you ask WCHS activities director Jess Howard, that specific time of year can be a proverbial madhouse.

In the realm of Iowa high school sports, wrestling is gearing up for district and state competition while basketball is entering the final phase of the season with its district and regional tournaments.

So, these student-athletes made their commitments known via social media, following National Signing Day on Feb. 7.

Also, it can be hard to bring everyone together for one major ceremony. The life of a high school senior can be hectic, should they belong to athletic teams, fine arts programs and other projects before walking across the stage to receive their diploma on May 21.

It’s why Howard designated last Wednesday as WCHS’ 2023 Signing Day, which was held inside of the Competition Gym on the campus of Webster City High School, 1001 Lynx Ave., Webster City.

Taking part in the first phase of the ceremony were seniors Reese Casey, Jaime Grossoehme, CJ Hisler and Sierra Rattenborg. Senior Trinity Griffith participated in the second portion of Signing Day, once she returned from playing in the North Central Conference Girls’ Tennis Tournament, which occurred at the Dodger Courts in Fort Dodge.

Griffith had herself a day to remember, earning a conference championship in doubles play alongside teammate Joslin Gourley before putting the ink to paper.

“(Winning doubles with Gourley) was amazing,” Griffith said. “At four o’clock, we got back, where I went home, changed, redid my makeup and came back here. I felt pretty calm going into things. I like to keep a level head when I’m playing. I took things one at a time, and yeah, it was good.”

Casey — the daughter of Dan and Jodie Casey — will play volleyball at Grand View University and major in biology, while Grossoehme — the son of Aaron and Joelle Grossoehme — committed to the Northwestern College men’s basketball program with a projected major of Sports Management.

Hisler, a standout for the Lynx in multiple sports, donned the black and orange of Wartburg College’s highly successful football program. On the academic side, Hisler — the son of Chad and Jama Hisler — will major in biology and science engineering.

Rattenborg — the daughter of Tammy Rattenborg and the late Chad Rattenborg — will stick close to home, attending Iowa Central Community College to play volleyball and venture into the school’s nursing program.

Once Griffith — the daughter of Mitchell and Wendy Griffith — is done with tennis and softball, she will play the latter at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo. Griffith’s intended major will be engineering.

According to Howard, the timing was right to celebrate all of the WCHS student-athletes who were moving on to the intercollegiate level.

“It was a great event honoring our senior athletes continuing on their athletic careers at the next level,” Howard said. “Our athletes sacrifice a lot of time, energy, money and social opportunities to compete at the level in which they do. So, it is nice to acknowledge them with this signing day, where they see the dividends of their efforts.”

Once the signatures were made, pictures were taken. Then, came the array of parents, grandparents, relatives, teammates and coaches, who took additional photos to remember the special day.

“Athletics teach our students so much about commitment, drive and teamwork,” Howard said. “When you look at the accomplishments of these five athletes — not only on the playing field, but also in the classroom — I have no doubts about their potential to compete at the next level and to be very successful as they finish up their schooling and find their professions.”

“We wish these five athletes nothing but success as they move on to the next level,” Howard added.